Outdoor Lighting: LED Solutions to Illuminate Gardens and Terraces
OUTDOOR LIGHTING: LED SOLUTIONS TO ILLUMINATE GARDENS AND TERRACES
Good exterior LED lighting is not bought one fixture at a time: it is planned by walking around the house. The facade, the deck, the steps, the driveway and the back of the yard each have their own needs, and most of them run on a single 12 or 24V low-voltage circuit. For each zone, LEDCO offers LED products designed for outdoor use and for Quebec's climate, along with the wiring and waterproof accessories that go with them.
The facade: 24V 20W and 30W LED floodlights, grazing or washing
Facade lighting reveals materials: brick, stone, stucco, wood and metal. There are two techniques. Wall grazing places the floodlight very close to the wall, 30 to 60 cm away, to bring out the texture through shadow play. Wall washing places it further back, 1 to 3 metres away, to cover the surface in even light. Combined, they create the effects you see on hotels and museums, within reach of a home with our outdoor LED floodlights.
The 24V 20W LED floodlight and the 24V 30W LED floodlight connect to the same low-voltage circuit as the rest of your landscape lighting, which simplifies installation around the house. Aim them at the wall rather than toward the street: the house is showcased without dazzling passers-by or the neighbours.
The deck: strips under the railing and permanent string lights
A well-lit deck becomes a room of its own after dark. The secret is layering: perimeter safety lighting, ambient lighting and a few decorative touches. For ambiance, IP65 outdoor LED strips set in an aluminum profile under the railing's bottom rails create the floating deck effect: soft light that falls toward the floor and outlines the deck without glare.
For decorative touches, permanent string lights strung above the table complete the picture. In warm white, 2700 to 3000K, this LED lighting for the patio invites you to stretch out the evening; keep the same shade of white from one source to the next, and the deck looks more harmonious.
The porch and steps: 2.5W and 3W motion-sensor step lights
The steps of a porch or deck are where people trip most often in the evening. The 2.5W LED stair light lights the steps at foot level. Where no one thinks of turning on a switch, the 3W motion-detector LED stair light turns on by itself as you pass. Low light like this guides without blinding and sends no light up into the sky.
The driveway and garage entrance: bollards and a wall light
The driveway and home parking area need functional lighting that doesn't bother the neighbours. Outdoor LED bollards placed along the driveway, typically 60 to 80 cm high and 3 to 4 metres apart, light the ground just enough to walk without glare. Near the door or the garage entrance, an LED wall light completes the setup and welcomes you home when you pull in.
Wiring your exterior LED lighting: LUVIA 100W, IP68 and photocell
The whole low-voltage circuit starts at an outdoor transformer and is only as good as its connections. The four parts to plan for:
- The transformer: the LUVIA 100W outdoor power supply is the starting point of the circuit.
- The buried cable: it runs about 30 cm underground, in a protective conduit.
- Waterproof connections: every splice is made in an IP68 waterproof outdoor junction box or with outdoor silicone-filled marettes.
- The photocell: a 120V photocell turns the lighting on and off with daylight, with no timer to set.
Where wiring can't reach, at the back of the yard or along a fence, LED solar lights such as the 15" or 19" TULUM install with no wiring at all. For beds, trees and paving stones, see our LED landscaping range.
Technical tips for exterior LED lighting around a home
Draw the plan before you buy. A sketch of the facade, deck, steps and driveway shows where the cable runs and how many fixtures you need.
One white for the whole house. 2700 to 3000K everywhere avoids a cold facade next to a warm deck.
Aim at the wall, never the street. A floodlight turned toward the sidewalk dazzles passers-by and flattens the facade.
Let daylight decide. The photocell switches on at dusk; the motion sensor handles the steps nobody uses much.
Protect every connection. A splice left in the open eventually takes on water: IP68 box or silicone marette, no exceptions.
For a complete outdoor lighting plan for your home or business, contact our team.
Exterior LED Lighting FAQ
What lighting works best on a deck or patio?
Layer three things: perimeter safety lighting, ambient light and a few decorative touches. IP65 outdoor LED strips under the railing's bottom rails provide the ambiance, and permanent string lights above the table add the festive touch. Stay with warm white, 2700 to 3000K.
What is the best exterior LED lighting for a house?
The kind that handles each zone with the right fixture: floodlights for the facade, strips for the deck, low lights for the steps, bollards for the driveway. In low voltage, everything starts from one outdoor transformer, and well-chosen outdoor LED lights hold up to the Quebec climate. Start with the zone you use most, usually the deck or the steps, then extend the circuit.
How far from the wall should a facade floodlight go?
To bring out the texture of brick or stone, place it 30 to 60 cm from the wall and graze it. To cover the facade in even light, move it back 1 to 3 metres. The two techniques combine very well.
How do I light a driveway without dazzling the neighbours?
With low light aimed at the ground. Bollards 60 to 80 cm high, spaced 3 to 4 metres apart, light the path without sending light into the windows across the street. A wall light by the door completes the setup.
How can outdoor lights turn on automatically?
A photocell switches the circuit on at sunset and off at sunrise, with no timer to set. For the steps, the motion-sensor light only comes on when someone passes.
